The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, decorated Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche as the third substantive Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
In his remarks, the Minister urged the new CG of Corrections to build on the successes of his predecessors in areas of transformative reforms.
While appreciating the President, Minister of Interior and the Senate for the confidence reposed in him, the Controller General expressed that his appointment was a defining moment for the Service and pledged that his administration will be anchored on seven core pillars that reflect both urgency and long-term transformation.
“This honour comes not merely as a promotion, but as a renewed call to duty—a higher charge to advance the vision of a correctional system that is secure, humane, and truly reformative.
“The safe custody of inmates is our primary responsibility. We will strengthen this through manpower expansion, deployment of modern surveillance technologies, intelligence gathering, perimeter fortification, and synergy with other security agencies.
With over two-thirds of our inmate population being Awaiting Trial Persons, we will aggressively pursue decongestion by engaging the judiciary, State Governments, and other critical stakeholders to promote Non-Custodial Measures, expedite trials, and expand infrastructure where needed.
“We will renovate custodial centres that are experiencing dilapidation, build new ones where necessary, and invest in staff housing to create an environment that supports both correctional work and family life,” the CG of Corrections stated.
On welfare of the staff, the new CG promised to give utmost priority to the continuous training, retraining, and merit-based promotion of personnel.
“In addition, robust welfare packages, performance-based incentives, and structured recognition initiatives shall be instituted to enhance staff morale and ensure optimal operational effectiveness.
“The success of our rehabilitation efforts depends on how well we care for those in our custody. Adequate feeding, healthcare, education, vocational training, and strengthened aftercare programs will be pursued without compromise.
“The future of any nations depends largely on its youth. Our youths must not be lost to the streets or to crime. We will revitalise and expand Borstal Institutions to provide correction, character reformation, and hope to young offenders.
“Correctional reforms cannot be executed in isolation. I will continue to foster strong relationships with key agencies and development partners to unlock opportunities for system-wide improvement,” he added.
The new Controller General further reaffirmed that his mission was to promote public protection by providing assistance for offenders in their reformation and rehabilitation under safe, secure and humane conditions in accordance with universally accepted standards and to facilitate their reintegration into the society.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Unit of NCoS noted that the event marks a significant milestone for the NCoS as the Controller General, who has been working in acting capacity since December 15, 2024, has brought significant improvements to bear on the Service.